Sports

Friday October 30, 2009

Petrucci: English sporting culture not for Italians

ROME: Italy does not need sporting-culture lessons from England, Italian Olympic Committee chief Gianni Petrucci said on Wednesday as the row over Fabio Capello’s accusation that ultra fans were ruining Serie A continued.

England coach Capello irked many of his Italian compatriots earlier this week by saying the hardcore ultras were allowed to do what they wanted and that stadiums in Spain and Britain were more family friendly.

“Sporting culture certainly cannot come from the English,“ Petrucci, who had already contested Capello’s told Mediaset television.

“The word hooligan comes from English. I don’t forget that the English were banned from European competition for five years and this did not happen here.”

He admitted that Italy had had problems with hooliganism in recent years but “giant steps” had been made in bringing it under control. — Reuters

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